Thank you for contacting Pharmac. We have received your enquiry and will
respond as soon as possible.

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health or are experiencing side effects from medicines, please call:

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Kia ora John

 

Thank you for your request for official information, which Pharmac
received on 24 March 2026. The reference number for your request is:
2025-26-190

 

You should receive a response from us on or before 24 April 2026. This is
within the 20 working day limit set out in the Official Information Act.

 

The response date shown takes into account:

 1. Good Friday (3 April 2026)
 2. Easter Monday (6 April 2026)

 

Please contact us if you have any questions.

 

Ngā mihi,

 

Government Services | Pharmac

___________________________________________________________________
Pharmac - Te Pātaka Whaioranga | Level 9, 40 Mercer Street, Wellington 
[1]www.pharmac.govt.nz

________________

[2]undefined

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: John Armstrong <[3][FOI #34235 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 25 March 2026 11:21 am
To: Web Enquiry <[4][email address]>
Subject: R-0705 Official Information request - The total legal costs
incurred by Pharmac in relation to proceedings: CIV-2024-404-845 –
Whittome v Director-General of Health: common bundle

 

[You don't often get email from
[5][FOI #34235 email]. Learn why this is
important at [6]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]

 

Dear Pharmaceutical Management Agency,

 

I request the following information under the Official Information Act
1982:

 

1. Total Legal Costs to Date

The total legal costs incurred by Pharmac in relation to proceedings:

CIV-2024-404-845 – Whittome v Director-General of Health: common bundle
This should include, but not be limited to:

- External counsel fees and details of legal agency/agencies used.

- Internal Pharmac time/costings

- Disbursements (including expert reports, court filing fees, document
management, and preparation of the common bundle)

 

2. Breakdown of Costs

A breakdown of the above costs, to the extent held, including:

- Costs attributable to preparation of the common bundle

- Pharmac vs solicitor time

- Any third-party/vendor costs

 

3. Budgeting / Estimates

Any internal budgets, estimates, or cost projections prepared for this
proceeding.

 

4. Funding Source

Confirmation of the appropriation or funding source used to meet these
legal costs.

 

5. Ongoing / Forecast Costs

Any current estimates of anticipated future legal costs for this
proceeding.

 

Public Interest

There is a strong public interest in transparency regarding the use of
public funds in litigation involving significant public health decisions
and associated legal challenges such as this particular case.

 

Format & Timing

I request that the information be provided in electronic format.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

John Armstrong

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[7][FOI #34235 email]

 

Is [8][PHARMAC request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to Pharmaceutical Management Agency? If so, please contact us
using this form:

[9]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[10]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This e-mail message and any accompanying attachments may contain
confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, please do
not read, use, disseminate, distribute or copy this message or
attachments. If you have received this message in error, please notify the
sender immediately and delete this message.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.pharmac.govt.nz/
http://www.pharmac.govt.nz/
3. mailto:[FOI #34235 email]
4. mailto:[PHARMAC request email]
5. mailto:[FOI #34235 email]
6. https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific...
7. mailto:[FOI #34235 email]
8. mailto:[PHARMAC request email]
9. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
10. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

hide quoted sections

Kia ora John

 

Please find attached a response to your request for official information.

 

Ngâ mihi,

 

Government Services | Pharmac

___________________________________________________________________
Pharmac - Te Pâtaka Whaioranga | Level 9, 40 Mercer Street, Wellington
[1]www.pharmac.govt.nz

________________

 

From: Web Enquiry <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, 27 March 2026 8:57 am
To: [FOI #34235 email]
Subject: Acknowledgment of your request for official information -
2025-26-190 - John Armstrong - The total legal costs incurred by Pharmac
in relation to proceedings: CIV-2024-404-845 – Whittome v Director-General
of Health: common bundle

 

Kia ora John

 

Thank you for your request for official information, which Pharmac
received on 24 March 2026. The reference number for your request is:
2025-26-190

 

You should receive a response from us on or before 24 April 2026. This is
within the 20 working day limit set out in the Official Information Act.

 

The response date shown takes into account:

 1. Good Friday (3 April 2026)
 2. Easter Monday (6 April 2026)

 

Please contact us if you have any questions.

 

Ngâ mihi,

 

Government Services | Pharmac

___________________________________________________________________
Pharmac - Te Pâtaka Whaioranga | Level 9, 40 Mercer Street, Wellington 
[2]www.pharmac.govt.nz

________________

[3]undefined

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: John Armstrong <[4][FOI #34235 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 25 March 2026 11:21 am
To: Web Enquiry <[5][email address]>
Subject: R-0705 Official Information request - The total legal costs
incurred by Pharmac in relation to proceedings: CIV-2024-404-845 –
Whittome v Director-General of Health: common bundle

 

[You don't often get email from
[6][FOI #34235 email]. Learn why this is
important at [7]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]

 

Dear Pharmaceutical Management Agency,

 

I request the following information under the Official Information Act
1982:

 

1. Total Legal Costs to Date

The total legal costs incurred by Pharmac in relation to proceedings:

CIV-2024-404-845 – Whittome v Director-General of Health: common bundle
This should include, but not be limited to:

- External counsel fees and details of legal agency/agencies used.

- Internal Pharmac time/costings

- Disbursements (including expert reports, court filing fees, document
management, and preparation of the common bundle)

 

2. Breakdown of Costs

A breakdown of the above costs, to the extent held, including:

- Costs attributable to preparation of the common bundle

- Pharmac vs solicitor time

- Any third-party/vendor costs

 

3. Budgeting / Estimates

Any internal budgets, estimates, or cost projections prepared for this
proceeding.

 

4. Funding Source

Confirmation of the appropriation or funding source used to meet these
legal costs.

 

5. Ongoing / Forecast Costs

Any current estimates of anticipated future legal costs for this
proceeding.

 

Public Interest

There is a strong public interest in transparency regarding the use of
public funds in litigation involving significant public health decisions
and associated legal challenges such as this particular case.

 

Format & Timing

I request that the information be provided in electronic format.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

John Armstrong

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[8][FOI #34235 email]

 

Is [9][PHARMAC request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to Pharmaceutical Management Agency? If so, please contact us
using this form:

[10]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[11]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This e-mail message and any accompanying attachments may contain
confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, please do
not read, use, disseminate, distribute or copy this message or
attachments. If you have received this message in error, please notify the
sender immediately and delete this message.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.pharmac.govt.nz/
2. http://www.pharmac.govt.nz/
http://www.pharmac.govt.nz/
4. mailto:[FOI #34235 email]
5. mailto:[PHARMAC request email]
6. mailto:[FOI #34235 email]
7. https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific...
8. mailto:[FOI #34235 email]
9. mailto:[PHARMAC request email]
10. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
11. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

hide quoted sections